Apparatus for holding loose end of a belt in place

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for holding loose end of a belt in place. The apparatus comprises a clip member having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material for engagement with a user&#39;s belt. There is a loop member of a second predetermined material that is attached to one leg of the clip member. There is a connector member of a second predetermined shape and formed of a third predetermined material which is attached to the loop member as well as to the base of the clip member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/774,253, filed 2018 Dec. 2 by the present inventors.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a user's belt, and more specifically to a detachable belt keeper that can be used to hold the loose end of a belt in place.

Prior Art

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

U.S. Patents Patent Kind Issue Number Code Date Patentee 1,495,925 A 1924 May 27 Virgil E Quertermous 3,866,276 A 1975 Feb.18 Safariland Leather Products 4,280,254 A 1981 Jul. 28 Joseph Racke 4,627,132 A 1986 Dec. 09 Vivian C. Markham 4,819,303 A 1989 Apr. 11 Illinois Tool Works Inc 5,251,361 A 1993 Oct. 12 Leanne M Owens, Robert J. Owens 5,819,379 A 1998 Oct. 13 Van Hout Cornelius 5,873,151 A 1999 Feb. 23 Kathryn C. Sood

U.S. Patent Application Publications Patent Kind Publication Number Code Date Applicant 20070033698 A1 2007 Feb. 15 Adam Long 20100186195 A1 2010 Jul. 29 Reagan Huang, Annie Yeung 20110271495 A1 2011 Nov. 10 Geneva Grainger

Foreign Patent Documents Foreign Country Kind Publ. App. or Doc. Nr. Code Code Date Patentee 2005023035A1 WO A1 2005 Mar. 17 Damien Dough

Most belts only have a single belt loop to hold the loose belt end in place. This loop is most commonly placed in a fixed position adjacent to the belt buckle. Additional belt loops may be found on the user's clothing, e.g. pants, but their position may vary from one piece of clothing to the next. Depending on the length of the loose belt end, these loops on the belt and on the piece of clothing often are not in the right position to prevent dangling of the loose belt end. This belt overhang can result in a messy appearance and can be annoying, or even dangerous, especially when performing activities. Some people may also be looking for an elegant addition to one's belt to provide a new option of enhancing looks. Having a fashionable device, such as the present invention, that can be freely positioned and holds the loose end of a belt in place will address these problems.

DRAWINGS Figures

In the drawing, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1A is a side view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a front view of the apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus in operation.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus as used on a person's belt to hold the loose end of the belt.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

Identical components, which have identical functions, have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

-   -   10 Apparatus comprising of a clip member 12, a loop member 14,         and a connector member 16 to hold the loose end 34 of a belt in         place     -   12 Clip member     -   14 Loop member     -   16 Connector member     -   18 Space created between clip member 12, loop member 14 and         connector member 16 wherein the loose end 34 of the user's belt         will be placed     -   20 Apex surface of the clip member 12     -   22 Outward-curved projection from the rear end of the clip         member 12     -   24 Protrusion with through-hole at the base of the connector         member 16     -   26 Short curved inward projection on the interior surface of the         clip member 12     -   28 Decorative embellishment or engraving on connector member 16     -   30 Decorative enhancements to the loop member 14     -   32 Inner layer of the belt     -   34 Loose end of the belt     -   36 Integrated loop and connector member

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1A and 1B—First Embodiment

One embodiment of the apparatus 10 is depicted in FIGS. 1A (side view) and 1B (front view). In this embodiment, the apparatus comprises a clip member 12, a loop member 14, and a connector member 16. The clip member 12 is an inverted U-shape-like structure formed of a first predetermined material and with one leg shorter than the other. The clip member 12 has an apex surface 20 and has an outward curved projection 22 on the shorter leg of the inverted U-shape for easier attachment to the user's belt. The loop member 14 is a strap-like structure and is formed from a second predetermined material. It is attached on one end to the leg of clip member 12 that has the outward curved projection 22. The loop member 14 is bend over the apex surface 20 of the clip member 12. The connector member 16 has a L-shape-like structure and is formed of a third predetermined material. One of its legs attaches to the end of loop member 14 which is not attached to the leg of clip member 12. The second leg of the connector member 16 is attached to the base of clip member 12. At its bottom surface, the connector member 16 has a protrusion with through-hole 24 to allow for attachments such as but not limited to key rings. Put together, the clip member 12, the loop member 14 and the connector member 16 form between them a space 18.

The first predetermined material forming clip member 12 could be one of but is not limited to metal, alloy or plastic. The preferred material in this embodiment is steel. The loop member 14 is formed of a second predetermined material which could be one of but is not limited to leather, rubber, silicone or fabric. The preferred material in this embodiment is leather. The third predetermined material forming the connector member 16 could be one of but not limited to metal, alloy, wood or plastic. In this embodiment, the preferred material is metal.

FIG. 1B depicts the front view of the apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1A with decorative enhancements 30 to the front surface of the loop member 14 as well as decorative enhancements 28 to the front surface of the connector 16. Such decorative enhancements to the loop member 14 may include but are not limited to distinctive logos or designs, embossed patterns, stitched patterns etc. The decorative enhancements 28 to the connector member 16 may include but are not limited to engraved initials or names, distinctive logos, patterns etc.

Operation—FIGS. 2, 3

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the apparatus 10 in operation with cross-sections of the inner layer 32 of the user's belt and of the loose end 34 of said belt. A user of described apparatus 10 uses the clip member 12 to fasten the apparatus 10 to the inner layer 32 of their belt. The outward curved projection 22 allows for easier attachment to the user's belt. The user then fits the loose end 34 of the belt through the space 18 created between clip member 12, loop member 14 and connector member 16 for stable holding against the belt. FIG. 3 depicts a front view of a user wearing the apparatus 10.

Alternative Embodiments—FIG. 4

There are various possibilities of altering or enhancing the design of the clip member 12, the loop member 14, and the connector member 16. FIG. 4 depicts such an alternate embodiment of the apparatus 10.

The clip member 12 possesses a curved inward projection 24 at its interior surface to provide additional stability for attachment to the user's belt. The apex surface 20 of clip member 12 is flat.

Instead of a separate loop member 14 and connector member 16, an integrated loop and connector member 36 that attaches to the apex surface 20 can be used. Such component is made from a predetermined rigid material which could be one of but is not limited to metal, alloy, wood or plastic. The preferred material in this embodiment is metal. Except for the above-mentioned features the embodiment in every other regard is similar to FIG. 1A.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

A novel apparatus for holding the loose end of a belt in place has been described. Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustration of some of several embodiments. For example, both legs of clip member 12 may be of equal length; the apex surface 20 can be flat, rounded, pointy, etc.; the protrusion with through-hole 24 can be rounded, rectangular, etc.

Thus, the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. An apparatus for holding an end of a belt in place, said apparatus comprising: (a) a clip member having a predetermined shape and formed of a first predetermined material for engagement with a user's belt; and (b) a loop member which one end is attached to said clip member, said loop member being formed of a second predetermined material, and (c) a connector member attached to the other end of said loop member and attached to said clip member, said connector member having a second predetermined shape and being formed of a third predetermined material.
 2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said clip member, said loop member, and said connector member form a hole in which said end of a belt is placed.
 3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material is selected from one of metal, alloy, wood or plastic.
 4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material is selected from one of leather, rubber, silicone or fabric.
 5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said third predetermined material is selected from one of metal, alloy, wood or plastic.
 6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined shape is substantially an inverted U-shape where both legs seemingly converge.
 7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said first predetermined shape further includes a curved outward projection on one leg for ease of placing said apparatus over such user's belt.
 8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined shape is substantially a L-shape.
 9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said clip member further includes an inward projection disposed on an inside portion of said clip member to provide additional stability of said apparatus.
 10. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said connector member further includes a means for attachments of other articles.
 11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said loop member includes decorative ornaments.
 12. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said connector member includes decorative ornaments.
 13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said loop member and said connector member are integrated and formed from a fourth predetermined material.
 14. The apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said fourth predetermined material is selected from one of metal, alloy, fabric, wood or plastic. 